Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world’s most beautiful secret lagoon – Stuff

Im floating in the world's most beautiful lagoon. You might think I'm talking about Bora Bora or perhaps the Maldives.

But, no, this one is much closer to home. And much more secret. Its so secluded, no satellite can pick it up. Thats because its hidden inside an island.

Welcome to Fijis Yasawa Islands, and a place known as the Sawa-i-Lau Caves.

Quite a few people make a mistake when holidaying in Fiji by spending their entire break in Port Denarau, on the main island. While it has some glitzy resorts, you need to venture further to explore Fijis real beauty places like the Yasawa Islands.

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This stunning archipelago is only reached by ferry or flight from Fiji's mainland, and here life is simple: there are no roads, shopping malls, or supermarkets.

Youll find a series of towering islands wrapped in turquoise waters, and lined with golden sands. And best of all, there is a hotel to suit every budget, from $35 dorms to beachfront villas with private pools.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Sawa-i-Lau Island is home to one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world.

One of the northern islands is called Sawa-i-Lau, which is home to the secret lagoon.

The easiest way to reach it is by staying at a nearby resort, such as Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. It runs several trips a week to the caves, which start with a short boat trip, before arriving at a deserted beach.

Were then led up a stone path to find a small entrance to the cave. As you step inside, youre greeted with almost mythical beauty; a pool of turquoise water sits inside an almighty cavern, with shafts of light streaming in from a crack in the earth high above. It almost looks too beautiful to disturb but your guides then invite you all for a swim.

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Sawa-i-Lau Island is in northern Yasawas.

As youd expect with such a dramatic setting, legends swirl around the caves. One of the more popular is that a young chief and his lover fled to the cave, after threats that she was about to be married off to a rival chief.

He would swim into the cave with food until the pair managed to escape the island and find refuge, where they lived happily ever after.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is hard to spot from above.

But that's not all the secrets this lagoon holds. There is a second hidden chamber you can explore but you need to be ready for a serious adventure to get there. It's only accessed by swimming through an underwater tunnel for a few seconds, where you pop up in a pitch-black cave.

It all sounds a little overwhelming, but you'll have guides to help you through, and light up the cave with their torch. (You can also skip this part of the tour, as many do.)

I preferred the first chamber, full of movie-like beauty. If you want to restart international travel with a serious adventure a trip to the worlds most beautiful lagoon should be on your bucket list.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is easily reached from Blue Lagoon Beach Resort.

Getting to Fiji: Fiji Airways has services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Nadi. See: fijiairways.com

Getting to Blue Lagoon Resort: Most guests arrive on the Yasawa Flyer, an interisland ferry service running between Port Denarau and the major resorts. You can also take a seaplane or helicopter to the hotel.

Staying there: Blue Lagoon Beach Resort starts from $204 for lodge rooms, and $366 for villas, with a meal plan additional. See: bluelagoonresortfiji.com

Accessing the caves: Blue Lagoon Resort has regular trips to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, which costs around $65 per adult ($89 FJD) or $35 ($45 FJD) for children.

The author travelled to Fiji before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic courtesy of Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. This story was produced as a part of an editorial partnership with Tourism Fiji. Read more about our partnership content here.

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Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world's most beautiful secret lagoon - Stuff